april-2012

Brno
www.brno.cz
Euro
Getting to the centre
The bus to Brno leaves approximately
every half-hour, takes 20 minutes,
and costs about €1. A taxi into town is
about €10, and takes 20 minutes.
A slice of the city
Easter markets set up on Námestí
Svobody, the main square. Later in
April, Czechs burn witches, or effigies
these days, on Walpurgis Night.
Eating out
U Staryho Billa (www.bill.cz) has a
reputation for the finest steaks in the
city, good service, a nice wine selection
– and a bill to match. A reliable place
to wine and dine clients.
City suggestions
Two Faces is young and buzzing
Brno’s best place to dance. www.
twofaces.cz. By day, Steiner Café at
Gorkého 9/38 (www.cafesteiner.cz) is
a nice place to meet up for a coffee.
And finally ...
The underground medieval Labyrinth
at Cabbage Market (Zelný trh) is all
about early Brno. www.ticbrno.cz
Words Brien Barnett
Brussels
www.brusselsinternationalbe
Euro
Getting to the centre
We provide a shuttle bus transfer
between the airport (Charleroi South)
and any address in Brussels city
centre. The cost is €30/€60 return.
A slice of the city
When the sun is out, visit art nouveau
Saint-Gilles for a beer, or take a
picnic to Parc du Cinquantenaire.
Eating out
If you’re in Chatelain, try sustainable
cuisine at Tan, above an organic shop
at 95 rue de l’Aqueduc (www.tanclub.
org) with well-thought-out dishes for
around €18. For cheap grub on the
go, you can’t beat double-fried frites
at Frit’Flagey, a hut on Place Flagey.
City suggestions
April showers? Go to C.ramic, a cool
pottery painting workshop-cum-bar
with a laid-back vibe at 112 rue
Lesbroussart (www.cramic.be).
And finally…
Grab seven people and get a shared
taxi to the centre for the same price
as the bus but much quicker.
Words Poppy Bullock
Bucharest
www.bucharest.inyourpocket.com Leu
Getting to the centre
Wizz Air now flies into Henri Coanda
Airport. Get a shuttle bus from
outside Arrivals; it is 8 lei (€1.80)
for both the shuttle and train to
Bucharest North train station. Or
get bus no. 783 to the city centre or
no. 780 to the station, which is 7 lei
(€1.60) for two trips, plus 1.60 lei for
the plastic card you ‘load’ trips onto.
A slice of the city
Bucharest does spring magnificently,
with locals emerging from hibernation
and heading for the nearest terrace.
Eating out
Originally a chocolate shop and
café, Chocolat (Calea Victoriei 12A,
www.chocolat.com.ro) is now a fully
fledged bistro serving fine French food
with the best hot chocolate in the city.
Also in the Old Town area is the now
legendary Divan (Strada Franceza
[ destinations ]
BRNO-BUCHAREST
46-48, thedivan.ro). Great value
Turkish food, live music and dancing at
weekends, and a selection of aromatic
tobaccos to stick in a hookah pipe.
City suggestions
Few visitors to the Romanian
National Opera (www.operanb.ro)
leave disappointed. Tickets are cheap,
there is a broad repertoire of classic
operas and the opera house itself
is a gem. For more contemporary
sounds Mojo Music Club in the Old
Town (Strada Gabroveni 14, www.
mojomusic.ro) hosts local bands of all
musical stripes most evenings.
And finally...
Easter falls a week later in Romania
than in Western Europe. It is also
a much bigger deal: get yourself to
church on Easter Saturday night for
a unique experience.
Words Craig Turp